Mississippi House Bill HB179

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/23
• Refer: 1/4/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Health care and education shortage assistance program; establish to help attract professionals to work in certain counties.

Impact

The program is intended to bolster local economies and enhance the quality of health care and education services in rural communities. Eligible counties must adopt a resolution requesting funds and submit an application outlining their plans for utilizing the allocated funds. Furthermore, these counties are required to match at least 30% of the funds provided by the state. This financial structure is expected to incentivize local governments to actively participate in addressing workforce shortages while ensuring some degree of investment from the counties themselves.

Summary

House Bill 179 aims to establish a Health Care and Education Shortage Assistance Program to address the shortage of healthcare and education professionals in rural areas of Mississippi, particularly those counties that have experienced an unemployment rate exceeding ten percent in the previous year. The bill is designed to attract physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, social workers, and teachers to work in these underserved regions by providing financial assistance from the Mississippi Works Fund. Funding allocated for this program is set at a minimum of five million dollars per fiscal year, reflecting the state’s commitment to improving access to essential services in disadvantaged counties.

Contention

There may be points of contention among stakeholders regarding the appropriations and matching funds required for participation. Critics may argue that the state’s focus on matching funds could disadvantage smaller counties with fewer financial resources, potentially limiting their ability to benefit from the program. Additionally, concerns could arise over the actual implementation of the program, including how efficiently the funds are distributed and whether the anticipated outcomes effectively address the workforce shortages in these critical areas.